Causes and risk factors:
Asbestos is used as an insulator and fire retardant. It is widely used in mining and milling industries, construction, and fireproofing. Exposure to asbestos leads to breathing of the asbestos dust and fibers. These tiny fibers get stuck inside the lungs and leads to scarring/ thickening of lung tissue. These tissues then interfere the normal breathing function. Hence people engaged in occupations like shipping, general industry, construction are more prone for developing this condition. Smoking causes increase the retention of these fibers in lungs.
Clinical presentations:
Severity of symptoms is directly proportional to the inhaled asbestosis dose of exposure and period of time. It usually takes years together to manifest itself. Initially the patient comes up with complaints of difficulty in breathing and easy fatigue. Cough with bloody sputum, pain in chest, difficulty in swallowing, loss of appetite and weight loss are other symptoms. On auscultation of the lungs crackling in the base sounds can be heard. Clubbing of nails of fingers is seen. Later stages the functioning of the lungs can be derraneged.It can also lead to various complications of the heart and increase the risk of lung cancers.
Diagnosis and investigations:
Symptoms narrated by the patient following occupational exposure to asbestos for a long period and the physical examination carried out by the doctor will help to confirm the diagnosis. Certain investigations can be advised which are routine blood test, chest X ray with its typical radiological findings of fibrosis and scarring is marked. Culture of sputum is done to rule out the causative agent. Along with this Bronchoscopy, CT scan, pulmonary function test is a useful aid for diagnosis. Lung tissue biopsy is also advised in severe cases.
Treatment:
There is no specific cure for asbestosis. However treatment aims at giving symptomatic relief. Medications like bronchodilators, antibiotics and medicines to reduce the pain and for thinning down the secretions are administered. Oxygen therapy is implemented to relief the shortness of breath. Rarely lung transplantation is suggested .
Other Modes of treatment
The other modes of treatment can also be effective in treating sciatic pain. Homoeopathy is a science which deals with individualization and considers a person in a holistic way. This science can be helpful in combating the symptoms. Similarly the ayurvedic system of medicine which uses herbal medicines and synthetic derivates are also found to be effective in treating pain. Yoga exercises and pranayam are really found to be effective.
Recent update:
The research, which was presented at the European Respiratory Society’s International Congress, provided that a proportion of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) cases may be linked with asbestos exposure.
